Monday, March 2, 2015

Swap It Like It's Hot



I enjoy shopping at thrift stores and finding a great bargain.  It's fun to repurpose the items that I find and create a whole new look. 

I was asked by Charlotte of Ciburbanity to participate in #SwapItLikeItsHot Threepeat.  The rules were pretty simple: Purchase something worthy of a makeover; under $15 at your local thrift store.  Mail package to another blogger, who will transform your thrift finds. 

I received a package from Colleen at 58 Water Street.  It's as if she knew me personally.  I have a tea towel collection in all different patterns and a love for brass in all forms.  

I couldn't wait to transform this matchstick holder.


I used Barkeepers Friend to remove the patina.
  
After a little scrubbing, the brass and copper shine like new.

Looks great, don't you think?!!

I replaced the worn striker with sandpaper.

It worked just fine!
  
Such a nice way to store loose matches.

The plaid tin Colleen sent was a pleasant surprise!

It was perfectly suited to store my favorite cookies.

Who doesn't love a cookie-filled tin?

More than enough to share!

When the day is done, or just to relax, I enjoy a cup of tea.  It's the perfect way to unwind.

This floral tea towel is too cute to wipe up spills, but perfect on the tabletop to complement a hot cup of tea.

I love all of my thrift store items.  I had a lot of fun repurposing them into something new.  It wasn't necessary to DIY or paint.  Just a little cleaning was enough!!

Be sure to stop by Rachel's blog, Like a Saturday to see what she did with the items I sent her.

*Here’s the list of blogs participating in the hop!

Charlotte, thank you again for having me!

Day 1

41 comments:

  1. You got some great thrifted items! This sounds like a fun challenge. Great job Brandi!

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  2. As always you nailed it Brandi! I love how you re-purposed your items and looking forward to checking out the other projects...

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  3. What a fun event, Brandi. Right up your alley. It just goes to show you with a little elbow grease and imagination most anything can be spruced up and reused. Using sandpaper for the matchsticks is such a GREAT idea. And that tin of cookies. I could use it right here on my desk with my morning coffee.

    Thanks so much for sharing, Brandi...

    P.S. It may just be me but the top image is not showing up for me...

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  4. Wow, looks great! So shiny and like new. And...cookies and tea sound great! :)

    Nancy

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  5. Oh my! I love all of those finds! Great job!

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  6. What wonderful finds! Thrifting is one of my favorite hobbies, and I'm a sucker for old brass pieces, as well.

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  7. Those are some great finds? What CAN'T Bar Keepers Friend do? That stuff is amazing!

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  8. What great items you got and I'm glad you could restore that matchstick holder! It's so unique. What a fun item for your home :-)

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  9. Love your items. I tried thrifting before with some friends and I was frustrated I think I need to start off small and just learn to browse without going in with the mindset that I have to get something.

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  10. So pretty! You received some really neat stuff and did a wonderful job with them! Cookies....yum! ;)

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  11. OMG... the match stick holder is just the best!! !I love seeing that brass come through!! Thanks for being part of Swap, Brandi!!

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  12. Such lovely items you received Brandi and what a great idea! I also stocked up on Bar Keepers Friend too per Shavonda's referral. That stuff is good!

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  13. So creative Brandi! Love what you did with the Band-aid tin!

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  14. Oooh, I love that match holder! So pretty!

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  15. Really cute. I LOVE Barkeeper's Friend. It works so well.

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  16. How awesome to receive items you can you as is! Your pictures are lovely. :)

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  17. This is such a fun challenge. I love that you polished your match holder instead of painting it. The brass looks so pretty now! (I never stopped loving brass!)

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  18. What a fantastic swap! So much fun. Your items are gorgeous and I love the tin of cookies. nom nom

    I popped over to see what you bought and I am blown away. The wooden bowl was already gorgeous, but I love the gold leafing and the white bottom. She transformed your piece really well. :-)

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  19. I love this idea! Such creative fun can be had using items picked out by someone else. I love the idea of the brass match holder- brilliant!
    jennifer@decoratingdelirium.com

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  20. What a fun challenge! I love thrift store finds too. The match stick holder came out perfectly.
    Have a great new week Brandi.

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  21. I love brass and I haven't used Bar Keeper's Friend yet, but wow! What a difference that made! I didn't even realize there was copper on there. Great job! Love the way you styled these items too.

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  22. What a fun concept! Loving that towel.

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  23. How pretty! I love all your items and how you gave them purpose and made them look like a million bucks

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  24. It's amazing what a little polish can do! That matchstick holder just gleams now :D

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  25. Love that old metals can be polished like new again! PS I had no idea that tin was such a thing as a matchstick holder, how cool!!

    I think my brain is so trained to think of how to CHANGE everything that using things for their original purpose seems to slip my mind. Love that that tin can be a quick little pick me up/thinking of you/random gift to friends and family!

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  26. That is such a cool concept! I wound up looking at every blog and have to hand it to everyone. It was great just seeing what each of you did with their forwarded "finds".

    Loved the match holder. I am going thrifting to see if I can find something like it. I think I need one on my hearth. Also loved the cookies in the tin, but I probably wouldn't share!

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  27. Oh how fun! Love the brass and copper together and all cleaned up

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  28. Hi Brandi, you received some really cute things in your swap. I love the match holder It is gorgeous, and to think it only took a little elbow grease to bring it back to beautiful. Great use for that cute tin and the tea towel too.

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  29. Love that Kentucky tin! So glad you didn't paint it. :)

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  30. Wow, that brass is gorgeous. I also love the Kentucky tin.

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  31. What a fun swap, Brandi! Love how you transformed the copper match holder and that tin is perfect for cookies! I swear by Barkeeper's friend....Hope you have a lovely week.. xo Karen

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  32. Amazing what some elbow grease can accomplish! Nicely done~

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  33. What a fun idea! Those cookies look yummy too!

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  34. That tin is adorable, I need to go to thrift stores more often! You miss out on some pretty cool stuff!

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  35. Love the matchstick holder, you made it look fabulous! How fun is this swap and repurposing items in such a cute way!

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  36. Your pictures are gorgeous (as usual!) And I love love love this idea!

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  37. I love the vintage items you received! Would love to have the match keeper!

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  38. Hi Brandi! That flea market swap sounds like so much fun to participate in. I really love what you did with that matchstick holder and the cookie tin is so cute, too. Have a great week... :)

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  39. L O V E that tin
    I have nothing plaid anymore

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  40. Hi Brandi
    A fellow DIYer told me about your blog. I enjoy what I've read so far! I'll be following.

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